The Federal Police are carrying out operation Capgras this Wednesday (30) to combat a criminal group that embezzled pensions and retirement benefits from employees at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Five arrest warrants were issued and, early in the morning, four people had already been arrested, two in Rio de Janeiro, one in Nilópolis (RJ) and another in Mogi das Cruzes (SP). 
The agents also carried out 23 search and seizure warrants. At the residence of the main target of the operation, in Mogi das Cruzes, the PF found a workstation, possibly used in criminal activities and computers, files, documents, spreadsheets and notes detailing the gang’s activities were seized.
In the home of another accused, in a luxury condominium in Barra da Tijuca, Rio, cash, jewelry, luxury watches and vehicles were seized, as well as cell phones, a money counting machine and documents.
The investigation began after a complaint from a university pensioner, after identifying that a non-existent son had been qualified as a beneficiary of his pension, to receive part of the amount to which the victim was entitled. So, the University itself carried out an audit and identified several similar cases, and forwarded the complaint to the Federal Police.
The investigation showed that the gang used false documents to defraud these pensions, registering beneficiaries who do not exist, to receive the benefits of deceased employees. An estimated loss of R$1.2 million for the university. The PF is now investigating whether other public bodies were also harmed by the same organization.
During the investigation, agents identified other crimes committed by the gang, such as bank scams and fraud in social security benefits. The group also used oranges and shell companies to launder illegal money and moved around R$22 million in three years. The PF is also investigating signs that part of this money was passed on to members of a criminal faction operating in Rio de Janeiro.
